Staked tab terminal

ABSTRACT

An electrical terminal in the form of a tab for mounting within a substrate and provided with serrations preventing removal of the terminal from the substrate. The terminal is further provided with a hilt for limiting insertion of the terminal. The shank of the terminal is provided with a wire barrel and an insulation support, with an aperture defined generally centrally of the terminal longitudinal axis for receiving an insertion tool. The aperture together with the hilt cooperate to align and retain the terminal in registration on the insertion tool.

United States Patent Bruner [54] STAKED TAB TERMINAL [72] Inventor:Peter Martin Bruner, Mechanicsburg, Pa. [73] Assignee: AMP Incorporated,Harrisburg, Pa. [22] Filed: March 11, 1971 [21] App]. No.: 123,318

[52] US. Cl. ..339/221 R, 339/223 R [51] Int. Cl. ..H0ll' 9/08 [58]Field of Search ....339/217, 220, 221, 276 F, 95;

29/630 D, 203 SP, 11,283, 525; 227/79, 80;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,038,958 6/1962 Swengel..174/94 2,908,887 10/1959 Broske ..339/223 R 3,172,316 3/1965Grieshaber ..81/3 R 3,145,041 8/1964 Grolig ..294/19 v 3,223,960 12/1965Ruehleman ..339/221 R 3,535,673 10/1970 Maltais et a1 ..339/95 R 51 Oct.17, 1972 2,782,392 2/1957 Stolle.; ..339/220 FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS 1,060,271 3/1967 Great Britain ..339/221 R PrimaryExaminer-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Robert A. l-laferAttorney-William J. Keating, Ronald D. Grefe, Gerald K. Kita, FrederickW. Raring, Jay L. Seitchik and John P. Vandenburg [57] ABSTRACT Anelectrical terminal in the form of a tab for mounting within a substrateand provided with serrations preventing removal of the terminal from thesubstrate. The terminal is further provided with a hilt for limitinginsertion of the terminal. The shank of the terminalis provided with awire barrel and an insulation support, with an aperture definedgenerally centrally of the terminal longitudinal axis for receiving aninsertion tool.

The aperture together with the hilt cooperate to align and retain theterminal in registration on the insertion tool.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUBT 17 I972 INVENTOR PETER MARTINBRUNER BY GERALD K. KITA STAKEI) TAB TERMINAL The present inventionrelates generally to a tab type terminal, and more particularly, to atab type terminal having a shank portion for cooperation with aninsertion tool.

According to the present invention, a tab according to the presentinvention is suited for insertion into a substrate, with teethprojecting laterally of the tab for gripping the substrate andpreventing removal of the terminal therefrom. A pair of flanges form ahilt adjacent to the teeth for limiting insertion of the terminal withinthe substrate. The shank of the terminal is provided with a wire barreland an insulation support, the wire barrel defining an apertureincluding a bearing surface for receiving the tool. The aperture andhilt cooperate to retain the terminal in registration on the tool duringinsertion.

It is therefore an objectof the present invention to provide anelectrical terminal with a shank portion for locking registration withan insertion tool.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electricalterminal, with a hilt for limiting insertion of the terminal within asubstrate, and with teeth for gripping the substrate to prevent removalof the terminal therefrom.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an electricalterminal with a wire barrel and insulation support formed from a shankportion, the 'wire barrel further defining an aperture for registrationwith an insertion tool.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent upon perusal of the following detaileddescriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a preferred embodiment of a terminalaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective of a preferred embodiment as shownin FIG. 1 terminated to a conductor wire and initially received on aninsertion tool;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the terminal according to thepresent invention in full registration with an insertion tool as shownin FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, with parts in section toillustrate the details thereof, and illustrating the terminal accordingto the present invention in full registration with an insertion tool andin partial registration within a substrate; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the terminal according tothe present invention fully inserted within a substrate with theinsertion tool having been removed.

With more particular reference to the FIG. 1 of the drawing, there isshown generally at l a preferred embodiment of an electrical terminalaccording to the present invention. The terminal includes a generallyrectangular tab 2 fabricated from a suitable electrically conductivemetal. The end portion 4 includes laterally spaced chamfers 6 and 8giving the end portion 4 a generally tapered configuration. The tab 2has a pair of laterally spaced side margins 10 and 12 having a pluralityof laterally projecting serrations or teeth 14 and 16, respectively. Apair of generally rectangular laterally projecting flanges l8 and areintegral with the tab portion 2 and are respectively adjacent the teeth14 and 16. The terminal 1 is further provided with a shank portion 22integral with and extending longitudinally of the tab portion 2. Theshank portion 22 is provided with a generally centrally locatedrectangular aperture 24 having a planar bearing surface 26, extendinglaterally of the longitudinal axis of the tab 2 and disposed between theflange portions 18 and 20. The aperture 24 is formed by an ear portion28 which is integral with the shank portion 22 and is deformed incantilever fashion out of the plane of the shank 22, thereby forming theaperture 24 and the bearing surface 26. More specifically, the earportion 28 is deformed in cantilever fashion into a partially curledconfiguration defining a wire barrel. Another ear portion 30 integralwith the shank 22 is also deformed in cantilever fashioninto a partiallycurled configuration in opposed relationship with respect to the earportion 28. Together the ear portions 28 and 30 cooperate to define anencircling wire barrel. The shank portion 22 is further provided with agenerally elongated rectangular ear portion 32 which is deformed incantilever fashion to a partially curled configuration defining aninsulation support.

With reference to FIG. 5, taken in conjunction with FIG. 1, the terminal1 is electrically and mechanically secured to a conductor wire 34 withthe ear portions 28 and 30 crimped thereto. The insulation support 32partially encircles and is crimped over the insulation jacket 36 of theconductor wire 34. The terminal is also shown with its tab portion 2staked or otherwise inserted into a substrate 38 which may comprise acard or board. The flanges 18 and 20 engage the substrate 38 to providea hilt and limit insertion of the tab 2. The teeth 14 and I6 register inthe substrate 38 to prevent pull-out of the tab 2.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, taken in conjunction with FIG. 4, thedetails of the insertion procedure and tooling will be explained indetail. As shown in FIG. 2, an insertion tool generally indicated at 40includes a generally central driving head portion 42 with two laterallyspaced projecting alignment flanges 44 and 46. The end portion 48 of thetool 40 is recessed with respect to the projecting head portion 42 andthe flanges 46. As shown in FIG. 2, the head portion 42 is initiallyinserted internally of the aperture 24 in the shank of the terminal,with the lateral flanges 44 and 46 received in registration over theflange portions 18 and 20, respectively. The terminal is then pivotedwith respect to the tool 40 in a direction of the arrow generallyindicated at 50 in order to fully register the tool 40 with theterminal 1. Such full'registration of the tool 40 is shown in FIG. 3,taken in conjunction with FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 3, the flangeportions 18 and 20 will be received partially within the recessed endportion 48 of the tool 40 and in registration laterally against theprojecting flanges 44 and 46 of the tool 40. The tab 2 of the terminalwill project longitudinally from the driving member 42 of the tool 40.The shank of the terminal will be in registration between and laterallysupported by a pair of elongated laterally spaced projections 52 and 54provided on the tool 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the projection 54 includes a recess portion 55therethrough to laterally accept the insulation 36 of the conductor wiretherethrough.

Further with reference to FIG. 4, the driving head por tion 42 of thetool is provided with a recessed anvil surface 56 which registers withthe planar bearing surface 26 of the terminal. Thus, the head portion 42is inserted within the aperture 26 of the terminal topartially overliethe shank portion 22 of the terminal, with the recessed anvil surface 56in registration against the bearing surface 26 of the terminal. Toforcibly insert the tab 2 within the substrate 38, the tab 2 isinitially located partially within an aperture 58 of the substrate 38.The tool 40 is then forcibly driven by an operator in the direction ofthe arrow as shown at 60. A driving force will be transmitted throughthe anvil surface 56 of the tool head portion to forcibly insert the tab2 into the substrate 38. As shown in FIG. 4, the anvil surface 56projects from the recessed end portion 48 of the tool 40, therebyinsuring that the driving force will be directed and transmitted alongthe longitudinal central axis of the tab 2. During insertion, the toolhead 42 and the tool flanges 44 and 46 will overlie the terminal tolockingly register the terminal to the tool. Additionally, the shankportion 22 of the tool will overlie a portion of the tool and belaterally supported between the projections 52 and 54 of the tool.

Other modifications and embodiments of the present invention will becomeapparent from the spirit and scope of the present invention as embodiedsolely in the scope of the appended claims; wherein What is claimed is:

l. A terminal comprising:

a tab having a generally tapered end portion for insertion into asubstrate,

a plurality of teeth disposed on opposing sides of said tab for grippingsaid substrate,

a shank portion on said terminal, I

an ear forming a ribbed wire barrel in said shank portion,

a flange on said shank portion for providing an insulation support, saidflange having a lower edge a adjacent to said teeth for limitinginsertion of said tab within said substrate and for providing a pivotpoint for engagement of an insertion tool with said terminal, and

an aperture adjacent to said ear and adapted to receive a projectinghead portion of said insertion tool.

2. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said shank portionlockingly retains said terminal with respect to said insertion tool.

3. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said shank portion is inregistration with said tool for laterally supporting said terminal.

-4. The structure as recited in claim 1, wherein said aperture defines abearing surface for receiving said insertion tool.

5. The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein said bearing surface isgenerally planar and extends laterally of the longitudinal axis of saidtab.

' P0405) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I SE69 CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent NO. 3,699,505 I Dated October 17, 1972 Inventor(s) PETER MARTINBRUNER I It is certified that error appears in the above-identifiedpatent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column L line 9, delete the word a Column L line 10, insert the phraseam upper edge after the word and (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attestlng Offlcer Commissionerof Patents AMP 2584

1. A terminal comprising: a tab having a generally tapered end portionfor insertion into a substrate, a plurality of teeth disposed onopposing sides of said tab for gripping said substrate, a shank portionon said terminal, an ear forming a ribbed wire barrel in said shankportion, a flange on said shank portion for providing an insulationsupport, said flange having a lower edge a adjacent to said teeth forlimiting insertion of said tab within said substrate and for providing apivot point for engagement of an insertion tool with said terminal, andan aperture adjacent to said ear and adapted to receive a projectinghead portion of said insertion tool.
 2. The structure as recited inclaim 1, wherein said shank portion lockingly retains said terminal withrespect to said insertion tool.
 3. The structure as recited in claim 1,wherein said shank portion is in registration with said tool forlaterally supporting said terminal.
 4. The structure as recited in claim1, wherein said aperture defines a bearing surface for receiving saidinsertion tool.
 5. The structure as recited in claim 4, wherein saidbearing surface is generally planar and extends laterally of thelongitudinal axis of said tab.